Maine has custody of horses in farm seizure

Brett Ingraham (right) and his wife, Alexis (left) run Fair Play Farm, a horse farm in Clinton.

AUGUSTA, Maine — The state of Maine now owns 15 horses and other animals seized from a farm last year after the owners were charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty.

Brett and Alexis Ingraham have pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charges. Their lawyer tells the Waterville Morning Sentinel that they took in injured or malnourished animals that would have been euthanized otherwise.

The state had sought custody of the animals since the couple were arrested in August 2010. The case, which reached Kennebec County Superior Court, ended when the Ingrahams gave custody of the ani mals to the state.